Gerrit van Rensburg, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Western Cape announced that the fight to keep Rift Valley fever out of the Western Cape has been stepped up.
"An additional 35 000 units of livestock in the northern parts of the province will now be inoculated as part of the Department of Agriculture's preventative strategy," Van Rensburg said.
A preventative buffer zone in the Murrayburg area has been created during the past few weeks through the inoculation of 10 000 units of livestock on high risk farms.
The department is currently focussing on the Beaufort West area. Dr Gininda Msiza, the Director for Veterinary Services at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture said that the ideal conditions for the outbreak of Rift Valley fever currently exist there. These include low lying areas where good rains have occurred and high numbers of livestock are present.
The Western Cape Department of Health is aware of the current situation and personnel in the affected areas are kept on alert for possible human cases. The department confirmed that contingency plans are in place to deal with any such situations.
Contact:
Wouter Kriel
Tel: 021 483 4700
Cell: 079 694 3085
E-mail: wouterkriel@gmail.com
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Western Cape Provincial Government
